Cootes used to say that the strangest mission in a lifetime spent in the Foreign Service was his flight across the Atlantic with an attaché case handcuffed to his wrist that contained a piece of Il Duce's brain.

"Ambassador Walker's broad experience in the Middle East and his dedicated service to the United States in the Foreign Service will be a valuable asset to our Embassy in Egypt," said the President "I am delighted to nominate him to this position."

The Director General of the Foreign Service is the principal advisor to the Secretary of State and Deputy Secretary and the Under Secretary for Management on Foreign Service and Civil Service personnel policy.

The total State Department personnel, including other personnel categories, such as Foreign Service reserve, Foreign Service staff, civil service employees, and foreign nationals, increased from 5,692 in 1938 to 20,327 in 1948 and 25,495 in 1968.